Dezeen has assembled a prestigious judging panel for its 2026 awards competition, tapping architect Malini Doshi, interior designer Elisa Ossino, and designers Lucas Muñoz and Mario Tsai to evaluate submissions across architecture, interiors, and design categories. The awards, running in partnership with Trimble, seek to identify the world's most innovative work across these disciplines.
Doshi brings significant credentials to the panel. Her practice has earned international recognition for projects spanning residential, commercial, and institutional spaces. Ossino, known for her distinctive approach to interior design, brings a complementary perspective to the judging process. Muñoz and Tsai round out the panel with expertise in contemporary design practice.
The competition remains open with less than three weeks before the submission deadline. Entries close at 23:59 London time on May 23rd. The Dezeen Awards operate as one of the design industry's most visible annual competitions, attracting submissions from practitioners globally and generating significant visibility for winners within professional circles.
Dezeen, the influential architecture and design publication founded in 2006, uses the awards to reinforce its position as a tastemaker within the industry. By announcing high-profile judges, the publication signals the competition's prestige while attracting quality submissions. The inclusion of both established practitioners like Doshi and emerging voices reflects a common strategy among major design awards: balancing experience with fresh perspective.
The partnership with Trimble, a software company serving the architecture and construction sectors, underscores how technology companies increasingly embed themselves within design culture through sponsorships and awards programs. This alignment reflects broader industry trends toward digitalization in creative practice.
For designers, architects, and studios considering submission, the tight timeline demands immediate action. The composition of this judging panel suggests the awards will evaluate work across traditional craft expertise and contemporary innovation, making it relevant to both established practices and emerging talent.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Dezeen's 2026 awards competition attracts heavyweight judges as the submission deadline rapidly approaches.